With the new NBA season is approaching, fans of any franchise other than the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics are thinking about their rookie players they picked in the 2024 NBA draft. This is often one of the most exciting parts of the season for many fans, as their team gets to upgrade the options available with a fresh influx of players looking to make their mark on the world’s best professional basketball league.
But, who were the main 2024 NBA Draft prospects to keep an eye on? We’ve done the heavy lifting to identify the main players to watch. Keep reading for the lowdown.
2024 NBA Draft
First up, just a word on the 2024 NBA Draft. This hotly anticipated event took over two nights for the first time, on June 26th and June 27th. The first round was held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with the second round at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios. Many people find simply watching the NBA Draft enough, but have you ever tried betting on the outcomes? Sports betting sites nowadays offer odds on various outcomes over the two-day event, from choosing precise player picks to guessing what team will go for which player position. And that’s just the start. After the season commences, sports betting platforms offer wagering opportunities on everything from NBA stats to the outcomes of individual games or the overall NBA winner.
Top 10 2024 NBA Drafted Players
As with most years, the 2024 NBA Draft was hotly anticipated due to the number of promising college and overseas players to choose from. Choosing the top prospects requires sustained data analytics and research, tactics that leading NBA franchises have used time and time again to capture the best players. Here is a look at the top 10 drafted players in the 2024 NBA Draft:
#1 Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks
Zaccharie Risacher has already been a household name in his native France, wowing crowds at JL Bourg with his combination of deft skill and shot-making prowess. Widely regarded as one of the safest bets in this year’s NBA Draft, most analysts tipped Risacher to be #1 pick.
#2 Alexandre Sarr, Wizards
Alex Sarr has caused quite a stir in the NBL, using his immense 7-foot-1 frame to great effect in the NBL. Only 18 years of age, the French center and power forward is a defensive dynamo but the potential for offensive fluidity is also there, despite his size. Most experts expected Sarr to be #1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he ended up being #2.
#3 Reed Sheppard, Rockets
Reed Sheppard is the most promising college basketball player in this year’s NBA Draft, making waves with his consistently excellent performances in Kentucky. Sheppard has the potential to be a future NBA all-star, such is his shot-making and overall basketball IQ. At 6 foot 3, he’s slightly shorter than most teams will prefer, but he’s expected to be the #3 pick, nonetheless.
#4 Stephon Castle, Rockets
Castle went to Newton High School in Covington, GA where he averaged 20.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.0 blocks in his senior year, and was selected to play in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American game. He impressed scouts enough to be upgraded from a four-star recruit to a five-star recruit.
#5 Ron Holland II, Pistons
Ron Holland was forecast as #1 pick a few months ago, but the emergence of players like Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr has pushed him down slightly in the pecking order. Still, Holland has enjoyed a fantastic season with G League Ignite, proving he certainly has the credentials to move up into the professional game.
#6 Tidjane Salaun, Hornets
Salaun’s athleticism, length and motor will certainly intrigue scouts. His draft stock will likely be determined by how much NBA teams believe in his potential to become a knockdown 3-point shooter and/or excellent defender.
#7 Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers
Donovan Clingan is even taller than Filipowski, at 7 foot 2. He’s also surprisingly mobile, making him an enticing option.
#8 Rob Dillingham, Spurs
Rob Dillingham is another Kentucky player with huge potential, although analysts put him narrowly behind Reed Sheppard in the overall NBA Draft pecking order. An efficient player with huge potential, we expect him to go at #6.
#9 Zach Edey, Grizzlies
Edey will continue playing to his strengths as a low-post scorer, finisher, offensive rebounder and drop defender. He just won’t be used as often, and his minutes figure to be more in line with a backup’s or lower-level starter’s because of defensive limitations.
#10 Cody Williams, Jazz
Cody Williams was unstoppable for the Colorado Buffaloes before an ankle injury disrupted an extremely promising season. Experts are still tipping him for the #5 pick, especially with the Portland Trail Blazers desperately in need of an upgraded power forward.